Grid casting machine



A. D. LUND Ju ne 23, 1931.

GRID CASTING MACHINE INVENTOR June 23, 1931. A. D. LUND 1,811,143

' GRID .CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1928 15 Sheet-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR I BY ARTHUR LUND @w 'rro NEY Jim 23, 1931. A. D. LUND 1,

' mm CASTING MACHINE Filed-Aug 24, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR FL BYAPTHUR Lu/vo TTNEY June 23, 1931.1

A. D. LUND 1,811,143

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 ONEY BY ARTHUR I LUND June 23, 1931 DLUND 1,811,143

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 55 BYARTHUR LUND It; a

ATTORNEY A. D. LUND GRID CASTING MACHINE June 23, 1931.

Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 24, 1928 Jung 23, 1931; A. D. LUND 1,811,143

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24,: 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTO ARTHU D Lu/vo ATTORNEY A. D. LUN'D GRID CASTING MACHINE June 23, 1931.

Filed Aug. 24, 1928 1.5 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORN EY June 23, 1931. A. D. LUND 1,811,143

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR BY AQTH LUND ATTORN EY June 23, 1931. A. D. LUND GRID CASTING MACHINE 15' Sheets-Sheet ,lo

Filed Aug. 24, 1928 mvll" INVENTOR ATTIORNEY June 23, 1931. LUND I GRID CASTING MACHINE Fiied Aug. 24, 1928 l5 Sheets-Sheet l x mw m a GK .1 ii HM Ow I III/L l I .mN MN on NR 6 ZZ W E:

I-NVENTOR BY ARTH ATTORNEY June 23, 1931'.

A. D. LUNP GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1928 l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 ENVENTOR AQTi-/UQ LU/VD ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. D LUND GRID CASTING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Aug. 24, 1928 INVENTOR BY ART/ un LUND ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. LUND GRID CASTING MACHINE iFiled Aug. 24, 1928 .15 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTORQ I BY ARTHUR LUND 'ATTRNEY A. D. LUND GRID: CASTING MACHINE June 23, 1931 Filed Aug. 24, 1928 1s Sheets-Sheet 15-- INVENTOR Patented 1...... 23,1931

"UNITEDSTATES ENT O F E v ARTHUR D. mum; on mmroms, mnmnsom, Assrenon 'ro' ALCE'I. ELEGIRQ- .PBOIDUCTS CORPOBATIOR, OE NEW Y CRK N. Y .A. CORPORATION OF YORK can) cn's'rine macnmn Application filed August 24, 1928,. Serial No. 301,830.

This invention relates to machines for casting articles from molten metal, and the main object is to provide a hi'ghlynovel, efficient and practical machinepar'ticularly designed 5 and adapted for the purpose ,of cast-in grids for batteries. Further and more specific obects are to provlde, in such a machine, an 1mproved construction of grid forming molds,

improved means for automatically opening and closing the molds, improved means for mounting and coolingthe molds, improved means for smoking or treating the molds prior to filling, improved means for melting and systematically delivering the molten. lead in predetermined charges to the molds, and improved means for receiving the completed grids from the molds and delivering them to a-point remote therefrom. These and other objects will be more specifically enumeratedand set forthin detail in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, as seen from its right side, the right end of the chine, fractional portions being broken away for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 isa plan'view of the machine with fractional portions broken away or removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation, as on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

v Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine with fractional portions broken away.

Fig. 6' is a side elevation of the lower portion of the machine, asse'en from its left side. I Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view as seen substantially on the irregular line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation as taken approximately on the line 88 inFig. 3.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 9-9 in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 10 is aside elevation of the melting unit showing the metal pumping or feed mechanism in a raised position.

'Fig. 11 is a detailplan view of the metal feed spout and pump chamber.

Fig. 12 is a detail section as on the line 12-12in Fig. 11.

View being considered as the front of the ma- Fig. 13 is a sectional detail view'of the feed nozzle, which is superimposed upon the spout shown below in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail elevation,-partly in section, showing the pump unit and piston actuating mechanism.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail plan view of the lever mechanism shown in Fig 14.

Fig. 16 is a detail side elevation of the de-- a vice shown in Fig. 15, with a fractional portion'sectioned away.

Fig. 17 is an end view of the device as-seen from the right in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a detail elevation, partly in section, as on the line 18-18 in Fig. 19, of the metal control valve and operating mechanism therefor. v

Fig. 19 is a detail view, partly in section, as on the line 1919 in Fig. 18.

' Fig. 20 is a detail plan view of one of the pump actuating connecting rods.

Fig. 21 is a detail elevation of the rod shown in Fig. 20, with a portion thereof shown in section, as on the line 2121.

Fig. 22 is a section on the line 2222 in Fig. 21.

Figs. 23, 24 and 25 are views similar to Figs. 20,21 and 22, but of the valve actuating rod.

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the smoking unit, fractional portions being broken away.

Fig. 27 is a right end view of the smoking device, partly in section as on the line 2727 I in Fig. 26.

2828 in Fi 26, but showing the burner carrier as loc ed in its idle position.

Fig. 29 is a plan elevation of one of the pairs of molds or die units, the left half of the near mold being broken away.

Fig. 30 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. 29, but with the left halves of both units shown in section. I

Fig. 31 is an enlarged detailsectional view as on the line 31-31 in Fig. 3.

The smelter or melting mechanism of themachine consists of a base member 34, I mounted on four legs 35, and having a pair of side frame members or standards 36, between which is mounted a furnace box 37 ted to escape through side ports 44 to connected smoke pipes 45. The lead pot 39 is provided with a pair of laterally disposed slides 46 upon which the lead ingots may be placed, and from which they may bepushed into the pot as the metal level lowers.

The lead feeding or pumping devices, of which two are employed in the present ma chine, are carried on a cross frame 47, pivotally secured as at 48 to the standards 36, and which frame may be tilted up, so as to lift the pumps out of the metal, through the medium of a hand crank 49, shaft 50, bevel pinions 51 and vertical, threaded shafts 52 operating in arbors 53 of the frame 47. When in its lowered, operative position the ,frame 47 is securely held down by a releasable bolt 54. The feed mechanism is shown in its raised position in Fig. 10.

The machine here shown employs two sets of grid basting molds, and the molten lead is fed into these molds by two pumps. Each of these pumps comprises achamber 55 at the lower end of a depending arm 56, secured to the frame 47, and a lead displacement piston or plunger 57 adapted to move up and down in the chamber. The downstrokeof the piston forces a predetermined amount of lead from thechamber out through a spout 58, and through a nozzle 59 into the mold. Upon the up stroke of the piston a valve 60 is opened permitting the chamber 55 to again fill up, it being understood that the level of the metal in the pct 39 is always above the valve ports 60. .It will be noted that the normal lead level in the pot 39 is also above the spout 58, with a result that there is no tendency to cool the lead in the spout until it is injected into the molds, as would be'the case if the spout were exposed to the atmosphere. The lead level with respect to the pump 5557 is indicated in Figs. 5, 8 and 14, and it is of considerable importance that it is so located, for reasons that will presently appear. The piston 57' operates through a packing gland sleeve 61, secured as at 62, and through a smaller sleeve 63 screwing into the sleeve 61. The openings in these sleeves are sufli'ciently large to freely receive the plunger 57 and preferably do not contact with it at all, their sole object being to hold a packing composition, as at 64, and to hold a lubricant, such as powdered graphite, as at 65. A

-' heavy bearing member 66 formsthe primary bearing support and guide for the. plunger 57. The material 64 is of course tightly packed about the plunger by screwing down l of the sleeve 63, and its sole purpose is to keep air out of the pump chamber and also to wipe the lead off of the rising-piston. By this construction, it will be noted, all posslbility of litharge forming on the iston is entirely eliminated, as no part 0 the piston contacting with the lead comes in contact with the atmosphere, at least until it is first entirely wiped clean.

The pistons 57 are connected, at their upper ends, by links 67, to the front ends of bent levers 68, fulcrumed, as at 69 to the frame47, the rear ends of which levers 68 a are connected by links 70 to arms 71 of a sleeve 72 having a single actuating arm 73 (see Figs. 15-17), the sleeve 7 2 bemg trunpioned on a shaft 74 carried by the frame 47. The links 70 are connected to the arms 71 by pivot studs 75 adjustably secured on screws or worms 76 of the arms 71. Thus, by turnin these screws, the operating radii o the l tits 70 may be independently adjusted with reference to the shaft 74, and consequently the strokes of the pistons 57 may be independently adjusted with reference to each other and with respect to the stroke of the member 7 17 3. The arms 68 are both provided with lugs 77 connectedby lift rods 78 and compressed expansion springs 79 (see joints and link connections above described. a

Slidably secured upon the arm 73 of the sleeve 72 is a bearing block 80 the longitudinal position of which on the arm is governed by a screw shaft 81 that is journaled in a bearing portion 72a (Figs. 15, 16) of the sleeve 72, and which shaft has a knurled adjustable head member 82 by which the bolt is turned to move the block 80 in or out. A spring held pin 83 operates to friction'ally engage detents on the member 82 to keep the bolt from accidentally turnin The block 80 is connected to the upper orward end of a bar 84 which has a uniform oscillating or reciprocating action but by turnin the bolt 81 it will be seen that its radius wil be changed and consequently a shorter or longer stroke to both pistons 57 can be be noted that when the ar- 84 moves in a forward direction, i. e., to the right as in Fig-14, the pistons 57 willrise in the chembers 55, and, upon a reverse movement of the bar 84 the pistons will descend into the chambers displacing a certain amount of .equally and simultaneousl effected. It may I metal that isthen fed rearwardly and into 1 will be noted, with particular reference to Fig. 14, that as the cam plate 90 rotates, with.

a uniform motion in the clockwise direction, indicated by the arrow, the roller is thrust forward during the relatively short travel of the camgroove from points A to B, which travels imparts the down or feeding stroke to the pistons 57. As soon .as the feed stroke is completed the cam immediately drops back a very short distance, as at the point'C, thus causing a slight retraction of .the pistons. This retraction is effected before the valves 60 are opened, the object being to pull the lead in the spout 58 (see Fig. 8) back enough to prevent any of the metal to drip over and down through the nozzle 59. From the points C to D there is a relatively slight action to the roller 88 and the pistons 57 are raised quite slowly'but during this movement the valves 60 are opened'so that new charges of metal may be drawn or flow into the pump chambers 55. The pumps are substantiall idle while the cam plate 90 travels from to A this interval being required for forming and discharging the grid plates prior to the making of succeeding plates. As shown particularly in Figs.-2022, the

rod 84 is formed of two telescoping sections,

one, 91, of which is a forked socket member that connects directlylto the block 80. The member 91 contains a friction pawl 92 held in engagement with a notch in the bar 84 under the pressure of a spring '93, the tension of which may beadjusted by a threaded plug 94. A pin 95 extends up from the pawl 92 and has a cam hand lever 96 by which the pawl may be manuall released from the bar 84 when so desired. connecting the bar arises particularly when the pumping mechanism is to be lifted out of the metal pot, as shown in Fig. 10. It will be noted, however, that the pawl tooth inclines in both directions (Fig. 21) with a result that an undue strain between the parts 84 and 91 will cause a disengagement of the pawl. This is to provide against breakage of parts as wouldhappen for instance if the power were applied after the lead in the pot or pump chambers had cooled or hardened beyond its workable consistency. The lead chamber valves are opened and closed by the vertical reciprocating action.

of a pair of rods 97, guiding, as at 98, at their lower ends, and in bearings 99 near their upper ends (Fig. 18). Springs 100,

the tensions of which are regulated by adjustment nuts. 101 tendto hold the rods 97 down with the valves closed. At their extreme upper ends the rods 97 are provided with collars 102 under which engage the bifurcated or fingeredends of the arm 103 of a lever which fulcrums as at 104 and has a rearwardly and upwardly projecting arm 105. This arm 105 is connected by a'bar 106 to the upper arm 107 of alever'that fulcrums he occasion for so dis-' telescopic in much the same manner and for the same reasons as previously described in connection with the bar 84. Thus, as shown in Figs. 23-25, the bar 106 is held in releasable engagement'with a socket member 113 by a pawl 114 under the actionof a spring 115 and subject to be manually disengaged under the action of a cam lever 116.

The cam 111 is preferably an integral flange portion of the hub section 117 of the cam plate member 90 (see Figs. 3 and 18). The hub section 117 issecured upon a sleeve 118 rotatably carried, by bushings 119 at itsends, upon a shaft 120 secured in the housing 87. The. sleeve 118, as well as the various cam members carried by it, are rotated by a worm gear 121, carried'by the sleeve within a casing 122, and which meshes with a. worm 123, on a shaft 124 (see'Figs. 2, 3, 7, 8), driven bya chain 125 (in housing 126) from a power unit or motor'127. A clutch 128 operatively connects the shaft with the motor, and includes a shipper fork 129 on a shaft 130, and a hand lever 131 for oscillating the shaft to throw the clutch into and out of engagement. I

It is sometimes desirable to operate the machine very slowly, especially when observations and adjustments are to be made, and with this in view I provide the front end of the shaft 124 with a bevel pinion 132. A complementing bevel pinion 133 is slidably carried on the inner end of a shaft 134' which, at its outer end is connected by bevel pinions to a vertical shaft 135 having a hand crank 136. The pinion 133 is normally held spring 13 but may be pressed into engage- .ment therewith by a foot pedal 138 operating against a pinion position control rod.139. Thus it will be seen that by releasing the clutch 128, and then pressing the pedal lever 138 the power gear 121 may be rotated by the hand crank 136, and when the member 138 isagai'n released the connection between the pinions 132 and 133 is disrupted. It may here be noted that the housing 87 is provided with a door 140, through which the various mechanisms within the housing may be cleaned, oiled, repaired, and adjusted.

In connection with the cam operation shown particularly in Fig. 18 it may be stated that the parts are so proportioned and on the stroke from H to E. And these move ments are all timed and synchronized with reference to the pump actuating mechanism, with a result that the valves remain closed. during the down stroke of the pump pistons and for a moment thereafter, to prevent dripping as above noted, and then opens and stays open during the major up stroke of the pistons, which is the chamber filling period, and this cycle is repeated for each casting operation.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the numeral 141 designates a support for the bar 142 of a metal temperature indicator (not shown) and the numeral 143 designate brackets which support a partitioning plate 144 that extends down into the lead pot to hold back the lead ingots until they have become melted. It may here be noted that in the pump chambers 55 are provided valve controlled vents 145, through which the chambers may be drained when the feed mechanism is raised to the idle position shown in Fig. 10. lt/will also be noted (see Figs. 9, 10 and 13) that the upper end of the nozzle members 59 is covered by caps 146, helddown by screws 147 of hinged U-brackets 148, and which when opened will permit the nozzles 59 and spouts 58 to be readily cleaned.

The mold operating mechanism, the mold treating mechanism, the mold mountings, the molds proper, and the grid conveying mechanism' will now bedescribed in detail.

Arranged between the housing 87 and the base 3435, are a pair of heavy side frame castings 149, connected by a cross bar 150, and

rigidly secured to the housing 87, as by bolts 151. Upon the members 149 is securely mounted a heavy cross beam 152 to which the stationary molds 153 are mounted. The movable molds 154 are carried'fgby a pair of rams 155, slidably secured in "races 156 on the housing 87. These rams aresimultaneously actuated, ahd, as each pair of molds is designed to cast four grids in one plate, it will be seen that eight grids are cast or 1 formed-.b each cycle of operation of the machine. he molds are shown in their closed "or metal receiving positions in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 29 and 30, and. Figs. 1 and 2 show the molds open or separated, at which per iods the grids are dischar ed and the matrix faces of the molds are c caned or smoked.

Each ram is actuated or reci rocated by the oscillating action of a lever 15%, the upper end of which projects into the ram (Figs. 3 and 8), while its lower end is trunnioned on a fixed shaft 158 in the bottom of the housing 87 The upper end of the lever is provide with a pivoted block 159 that operates between a fixed abutment 160, secured by a bolt 161, and the head 162 of'a slidable'bolt 163. disposed between the nut 165 and aportion of the ram, and tends to hold the head 162 in firm contact with the beam 152 b tween the members 160 and 162 occasioned by are of travel that the block 159 must move in. The springs 164 permit the molds to stop, in. their forward course, should the previously formed grids not be fully discharged or should any other object get between and prevent a iull closing of the molds, in which case the comparatively delicate matrix surfaces should become seriously dumaged.

The levers 157 each operate between a pair of cams 167 and have rollers 168 adapted to travelon the peripheries of these cams. The cams are secured on the sleeve 118, rotating there-with in a clockwise-direction, as shown in Fig. 8. The major portions of the cam surfaces are circular, and as the rollers 168 travel on these portions extending from J to K, they are stationary,-and in which positions they hold the levers 157 forward and the molds closed. The roller engaging surface from K to J is inwardly curved (Fig. 8) and is complemented by an outer, cam edged member 169, which, as the point K approaches the roller, engages the roller and moves the lever 157 rearwardly thus opening the molds. It will thus be seen that the eight cam members 167, 169, 111, and 90 are all mounted on and simultaneously rotated with the sleeve 118 by the motor 127.

The stationary molds 153 are secured to bolts 170 havin springs 171 which hold t e molds firmly bac against adjusting set screws 172 (Fig. 8), by means of'which the stationary molds may be accurately set to properly receive the movable molds.

. The movable molds 154 are secured to flange extensions of the rams 155 (see Fi 3- and 31) by stud bolts 173 anchored in t e molds and having freedom for limited ing movement in the members 155, the extent of said limited sliding movement being foursprin'gs 17 5' (one of which is shown in Fig. '31), compressed between short lugs 176 of the molds and adjustable plugs 177 in the ram. The springs 175 thus further cushion the movable molds but their main purpose is to eifect or permit of a perfectly uniform contact between the molds when they come together. The mova through the molds, which are held outslid lemolds 154, are provided with series of suitably distributed knock out pins. 178 (Fig. 30) having limited sliding 8.6510118 '11s determined by adjusting nuts 174. The

. roll, upon a shelf-195.

' grids,

wardly projected, by springs 179, in which positions their inner ends are flush with the matrix surfaces. The completed and cooled grid plates adhere to the molds 154, when the latter are withdrawn from the stationary molds, and,-as the rams approach the end of their rearward strokes, the knock out pins 178 meet the head ends of a series of tap screws 180, adjustably secured in a rectangular frame 181 carried by the housing 87.

As the grid plates are thus freed from the open molds they drop down upon an inclined and curved chute 182 by which they are delivered to an endless apron or. conveyor 183 carried bya frame 184 secured to the legs 35. The upper conveyor. roller hasa sprocket pinion 185 (Figs. 2, 5, 6, and 7), driven from a, sprocket pinion 186, by a chain 187. The pinion 186 carries a worm gear 188 meshing with the worm 189 of a shaft 190, driven-by the motor 127. Slack in the belt 183 may be taken up by set screws 191, and the proper taughtness in: the chain 187 is had by moving the gear support block 192 on a rail 193, the

shaft 190 being telescoped, as at 194, to permit I The plates delivered by the chute 182 are carried up on the apron 183 such adjustment.

until they deposit themselves, over the u per When this shel has received a certainnumberof plates they may be temporarily piledupon a larger shelf 196 I until they are to be carried away or delivered to the cutting or trimming machine.

The faces ofthe molds 153 and 154are provided with the complementing intaglio or matrix surfaces which form the grids, and, as'shown inFigs. 29 and 30,'each pair of molds is capable of forming a plate of four which plate is hardened in and delivered from the mold rafter whiclrit is-cut apart and trimmed. The net work of horizontal and vertical grooves, 197 and 198, respectively, shown at the left inFig. 29, form what are known as the wires arid ribs of the completed grid, the surrounding channels 199 form the outer frames-of the grids, andthe pockets 260 form theterminal posts. Adjacent the outer channels 199 the molds are provided with relatively lar er channels 201, which form heavy rods arsat the ends of the grid plates, andwhich terminate, at their upper ends, in suitable air vents 202.

The middle, face portions of the molds are provided with hollow inserts 202, through which water is circulated from tubes or hoses 203, to keep the. molds cool and to expedite wedge shaped sections 204 which, separate the incoming stream of metal.- The upper ends of the inserts are flared out to form funnels for receiving the molten metal from the beaks or nozzles 59. -As the lead is filled into the closed molds it quickly fills all. the

open spaces therein the displaced air being burner 208. -In any various cams carried by it.

-nism shown in Fig.

s discharged fromthe molds through the vents 202.

After each set of grid plates has been castby and discharged from the molds it is necessarythat the molds be smoked, or treated,

before they are again closed to receive another charge of the molten lead. This'I do by the mechanism illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, and 26 to 28., inclusive, and which may be described as follows Upon the vertical end bars'of the frame 181 I mount two bracket arms 205, which support a transversely extending guide bar 206. Upon this bar is slidably mounted a carriage or casting 207, through which extends and from which depends a burnertube 208 having two opposite rows of burner tips 209. The pipe or tube 208 has a valve 210, and connects with a flexible-hose 211 that supplies gas to the'burner 208 when the valve 210 is open. A pilot tube 212 connects with the gas supply, in advance of the valve 210, and has a burner tip 213,

adj acentthe lower end of the burner pipe 208,

vided With a finger 216, adapted to drop .or

swing into a notch217, in the bar 206,when the carriage 207 is in the left-hand position indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 26. When the finger 216 is in the notch 217 the valve 210 is closed and there is no gas flowing tothe other position of the finger 216, however, the gas supply to the burner is open and the latter is i ited.

The operation of the machine may be briefly described as follows The motor 127 is not set in motion until after a sufficient amount of metal has first been melted up to the proper temperature in the pot 39. When this is done the feed mechanism is lowered into the pot, the operating rods 84 and 106 are connected up, a flow of water is started circulating in the pipes 203 and molds and current to the motor 127 is then turned on.

With everything in readiness the clutch lever 131 is pulled back, thus impartinga continuous rotary motion to the sleeve 118 and the I With the molds in closed positions, the 'plungers 57 move downwardly displacing a certain amount of metal that is then moved upwardly in the spouts 58 and fed down through the nozzles 59 to the molds. This feeding operation re- 7 quires but a short time, and when completed athe plungers, a

quick but short retraction of virtue of the rollers 88 passing from B to slightly draws the lead in the Spent 58 back, 9

before the valve mecha-' 18 operates to open the to prevent dripping, 

